Definition of recall in English:

recall

Pronunciation /rəˈkôl/ /rəˈkɔl/

See synonyms for recall

Translate recall into Spanish

transitive verb

[with object]

1Bring (a fact, event, or situation) back into one's mind; remember.
‘I can still vaguely recall being taken to the hospital’
- ‘Annie recalled the event that led to the rift in their friendship’
- ‘he recalled how he felt at the time’
- ‘“He was awfully fond of teasing people,” she recalled’
- ‘As I recall the experience, this is what comes to mind -’
- ‘I thought Labour opposed it at the time; as I recall the situation, it opposed it pretty strongly.’
- ‘But then my heart sinks as I recall the events of last night.’
- ‘Images of the unnamed creatures pulsed vividly in her mind, recalling events she did not wish to remember.’
- ‘The date is Friday 2nd April and all who attended last year's inaugural event will recall the outstanding success of the night.’
- ‘In fact, I cannot recall the last occasion when I sat anywhere else in the venue.’
- ‘There is a crossover between recalling events that actually happened and your interpretation or impression of those events.’
- ‘A tint of sorrow creeps into my mind as I recall the ‘good old times’ that are gone, never to return.’
- ‘But that didn't worry Allardyce, who recalled situations early in the season when similar tactics brought similar results.’
- ‘All too convincing, in fact, when one recalls his death last year of a heroin overdose.’
- ‘Some of my memories have faded but I will try to recall events that stand out in my mind.’
- ‘In this conceptualization, it would seem unlikely that a pre-verbal infant would have the capacity to remember and recall specific events.’
- ‘From previous sessions of the inquiry, Foy's inability to recall much detail of events under examination has been well established.’
- ‘Once I could remember everything and recall each event, I began to write.’
- ‘Children between the ages of 5 and 7 become increasingly able to recall event details.’
- ‘They started talking, each one recalling the events in detail and consoling themselves.’
- ‘Remember that some patients will recall events that occurred when they were under general anesthesia.’
- ‘She sat down and tried to remember, downcast at her failure to recall the events of the vivid dream.’
- ‘We started recalling situations, which at the time had seemed intolerable but now seemed simply worth a laugh.’
- ‘Memories plague my mind as I recall certain things.’
remember, recollect, call to mind, think of
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1. 1.1Cause one to remember or think of.
  ‘the film's analysis of contemporary concerns recalls The Big Chill’
  ‘The puzzle with which he is concerned strongly recalls the ‘Master Argument’ of Diodorus Cronus, especially in certain further details.’
  ‘It immediately recalls the contemporary paintings of Johannes Phokela, whose re-workings of European Old Masters insert black figures into otherwise Western contexts.’
  ‘The track sounded fun and contemporary, while also recalling some of their earlier work.’
  ‘O'Grady's depiction of treachery and oppression by Elizabethan bureaucrats recalled contemporary parallels, thought the reviewer.’
  ‘These children stare wildly, their oversized eyes gazing upward, eternally unblinking in an attitude that recalls contemporary Symbolism.’
  ‘Smaller pebbles outline larger ones, and the light on dark scheme recalls contemporary red-figure vase painting (though the stimulus of lost textiles should not be discounted).’
  ‘This technique of cutting up previously existing material and pasting it into a portrait of a human being recalls contemporary experiments in montage.’
  ‘Traditional memorials recall moments from the past.’
  ‘In a number of respects Solanas's new film recalls his earlier work.’
  ‘The domed stupa of Buddhist architecture recalls the simple mound of earth while its gates memorialise the forest cleared for the monument.’
  ‘We call it Tudor revival with a twist because it recalls traditional homes in early Seattle neighborhoods, but is contemporary in the way it opens to a multifunctional garden landscape.’
  ‘Sidney's contempt recalls Lodge's low opinion of Gosson's scholarship, especially of his ignorance of Platonic philosophy.’
  ‘The column triggered a fusillade that recalled the sulfurous exchanges between Joseph Pulitzer and his contemporaries in an earlier era.’
  ‘The pastels recall early works by Elizabeth Murray, Korman's contemporary.’
  ‘Wine, in particular, would recall the blood shed by Christ whom some contemporaries greeted as the Lamb of God.’
  ‘Unlike most New York examples, however, this one recalls contemporary German or Austrian models more than the French prototypes.’
  ‘The torn sackcloth and protruding tubes of fabric at the center of the canvas recall contemporaneous works by both Alberto Burri and Lee Bontecou.’
  ‘So placed, the light sculpture's flickering luminosity seems to both recall an earlier contemplation and act as new illumination to a newer generation.’
  ‘This is an ensemble policier, an uncommonly sunny film with urban chumminess that recalls contemporary Japanese television serials.’
  ‘It has a contemporary edge that recalls, without appropriating, the vocabulary of William Forsythe.’
  bring to mind, call to mind, put one in mind of, call up, summon up, conjure up, evoke, echo, allude to
  View synonyms
2. 1.2recall someone/something toBring the memory or thought of someone or something to (a person or their mind)
  ‘the smell of a black-currant bush has ever since recalled to me that evening’
  ‘As I later recalled my logic to Lauren, she brought up an interesting point.’
  ‘Ancient memories of treachery and betrayed trust screamed in warning at the very thought, and Bahzell had muttered of gods and wizards while the dream was upon him, even if he couldn't recall the words to his waking mind.’
  ‘Not surprisingly, these are rougher years and I find I cannot recall the films to mind as readily.’
  ‘Three vivid incidents will always recall him to my mind.’
  ‘This recalled to mind that one of the security programs asked something about this file.’
  ‘Nothing recalled to me as yet in any way the murderer's features.’
3. 1.3Call up (stored computer data) for processing or display.
  ‘students can recall templates or stored formats’
  ‘A keypad enables users to store and recall specific injection protocols with integrated test injections.’
  ‘This is achieved by feedback control systems that can learn by capturing, storing, recalling, and analysing information.’
  ‘It comes with seamless links to Microsoft Office and has features for storing and recalling information.’
  ‘As you talk him through the process, let him recall the data.’
  ‘The data is recalled from tape to disk when next referenced.’
  ‘There is virtually no limit to the number of setups that can be stored and recalled.’
  ‘For one thing, computers are a pretty intelligent lot, if the measure of intelligence is the ability to absorb, process and recall vast amounts of information.’
2Officially order (someone) to return to a place.
‘the Panamanian ambassador was recalled from Peru’
- ‘Hence, intending to install Suseema on the throne, he recalled him and ordered Ashoka to proceed to Takshashila.’
- ‘The hospital has recalled all doctors on vacation and ordered all medical students to report for duty to help treat the victims.’
- ‘This matter is seen to be so urgent that Senate has been recalled in order to pass such legislation.’
- ‘The claimant was given an extended sentence and after release, but during the period of licence, he was recalled by the Secretary of State and returned to prison.’
- ‘Upon his return to Amritsar, Guru Hargobind recalled the family from Goindwal.’
- ‘He was again recalled in 1868, but returned in 1870 to enter parliament, and served a term as premier.’
- ‘He returned to academic life, but in February 1939 Horthy recalled him as Prime Minister.’
- ‘Even when a practice was prompted to remind a child to return, the decision to actually recall that child was made by the doctor.’
- ‘The court was invited to order that Mathews be recalled for further cross-examination in the light of material which had become available since the trial, but it refused to follow that course.’
- ‘Within 24 hours, he had recalled the Senate in order to rush through the parliament amendments to existing anti-terror laws.’
- ‘In November 1943 Hitler ordered forces to be recalled from the Eastern Front to defend the Atlantic.’
- ‘The governor recalled the troops, and the workers eventually voted to return to work.’
- ‘Titan officials are attempting to recall workers in small numbers over an extended period.’
- ‘The Belgian ambassador to Israel was ordered to report to the Israeli Foreign Ministry yesterday, while Israel has recalled its ambassador to Brussels for talks.’
- ‘Last month, Eritrea recalled its ambassador to the African Union saying that the AU has failed to pressure or take disciplinary action against Ethiopia for not living up to the Algiers Agreement.’
- ‘The judges rejected two separate attempts to halt the trial, ruling that the issue could be dealt with by recalling Mr Rupert to the stand.’
- ‘Soldiers have already begun recalling troops to their bases, with others returning as civilians to their home villages.’
- ‘There was, of course, no honeymoon, and to crown it all a telegram arrived at the end of the week recalling my new husband to his unit because the posting had been cancelled.’
- ‘Venezuela and Mexico are recalling their ambassadors to each other's countries over disparaging remarks about the Mexican president from the president of Venezuela.’
- ‘Instead, the whistleblower, who headed the Bucharest embassy's visa processing unit, was recalled.’
summon back, order back, call back, bring back
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1. 2.1Select (a sports player) as a member of a team from which they have previously been dropped.
  ‘the Fulham defender has been recalled to the Welsh squad for the World Cup’
  ‘The 19-year-old was recalled to the team for his second appearance as part of a five-pronged seam attack, with spinner Gary Keedy missing out.’
  ‘Michael Duberry admits that he has mixed feelings about being recalled to the Leeds team for tomorrow's FA Cup tie at Birmingham.’
  ‘Drakes was recalled to the national team when he figured in the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.’
  ‘Eric Andrews, recalled to the first team for the first time in over three months after impressive displays in the Academy side, led the way with a five-try haul.’
  ‘The 25-year-old centre half was recalled to the England squad and made his seventh England appearance during last week's controversial friendly.’
  ‘England recalled fast bowler Chris Silverwood in a 14-man squad for the second cricket Test against Australia at Lord's on Thursday.’
  ‘And it may be only a matter of time before Button is recalled to his first team, especially if Michael Schumacher decides enough is enough and a grand reshuffle ensues.’
  ‘Soon he would be back playing for Everton, and to a standard that had some wondering, unrealistically, whether he might even be recalled to the England squad.’
  ‘Hilton was recalled to the squad this week for the first time in two years having finally qualified to play for Scotland on the basis of residence.’
  ‘You've been recalled to the Jamaican squad after three years.’
  ‘Stam has been recalled to the Dutch national squad for their friendly with Spain tomorrow night just weeks after returning from his doping ban.’
  ‘Combe could be recalled to face Motherwell tomorrow - his first Dundee United game since December 2000.’
  ‘It followed fine performances by the 29-year-old Londoner against West Ham and Leeds after being recalled to the side only because of the club's injury problems.’
  ‘Cullinan was recalled to the South African side for the second Test in Cape Town but withdrew on Tuesday after the United Cricket Board failed to offer him a contract.’
  ‘Both still train with us every day so know the way we work and one will have to be recalled to provide us with cover.’
  ‘Pauleta, the Portugal forward, has been recalled to the starting line-up and will take the place of Nuno Gomes.’
  ‘He was suspended for two years but successfully appealed the decision in April, and was recalled to the Springboks squad just over a week ago.’
  ‘He should have notched up another three points shortly afterwards when Gareth Thomas, recalled to the team in the centre, was penalised for playing the ball on the floor.’
  ‘Will some of the sacked senior players be recalled?’
  ‘Bucks had complained vigorously for having to recall their players who had already gone on holiday for the league recess.’
2. 2.2(of a manufacturer) request all the purchasers of (a certain product) to return it, as the result of the discovery of a fault.
  ‘Changes may be as simple as redesigning a cable connection or so complex that the product must be recalled by the manufacturer.’
  ‘With regards to safety, faulty goods should be recalled by the manufacturer and refunds to the public given no matter where they were purchased.’
  ‘West Vancouver firefighters are warning residents to check their thermostats after a heating unit which had been recalled by the manufacturer started a fire in a seniors' care home.’
  ‘The manufacturer who distributed hot dogs and delicatessen meats under 11 different brand names has voluntarily recalled the causative products.’
  ‘Affected companies are recalling products in Ireland and Britain.’
  ‘Last month 580 products were recalled after a contaminated batch of Worcester Sauce got into thousands of food products including many ready-made meals.’
  ‘All have powers to withdraw or recall a food product.’
  ‘They also want to give manufacturers an opportunity to voluntarily recall their products.’
  ‘The U.S. government has recalled the products in question but retailers have been importing the potpourri and scented pine cones since April’
  ‘More than 200 products were recalled in Australia this week when an audit revealed the company's breach of safety standards.’
  ‘Gun dealers aren't required by law to address these defects or to recall their products.’
  ‘We have an ability to contact those importers, recall any products that we consider to be of high risk, and, of course, publish any further information that is necessary.’
  ‘A couple of big-time scooter makers had to recall their products when they started to come apart as kids rode them.’
  ‘Food manufacturers recalled over 300 types of food products for this reason and initiated a series of genetic tests.’
  ‘She said the product was subsequently recalled.’
  ‘Some board manufacturers were not affected; others were able to intercept their deliveries, while some board makers even had to recall products.’
  ‘They have also been asked to retain any compound feed containing the contaminated material and to recall any such compound feed sold to farmers and retailers.’
  ‘For the last three years, more goods made in China are recalled from American store shelves than goods made in any other country.’
  ‘The chip giant could have redesigned the mobos, but instead has decided to recall the whole caboodle.’
  ‘It has come up with the plausible, although ridiculous, excuse that it has software problems with 103,000 handsets and so has had to recall them.’
3. 2.3Bring (someone) out of a state of inattention or reverie.
  ‘her action recalled him to the present’
  ‘Andrew was recalled from his morbid reverie by his guide's gentle grasping at his right elbow.’
  ‘The smell of the food they were eating and a sense of hunger recalled him from these reflections.’
  ‘When Georgiana recovered consciousness, she found herself breathing an atmosphere of penetrating fragrance, the gentle potency of which had recalled her from her deathlike faintness.’
4. 2.4archaic Revoke or annul (an action or decision)
  ‘he sent another note to Lord Grey recalling his earlier communication’
  ‘He then appealed to the Court of Appeal on that point and the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on the ground that the sentencing judge had no jurisdiction to recall and vary the original sentence.’
  ‘Confused with the orders of Judge Vianzon, respondents filed a manifestation seeking clarification whether the judge had recalled his earlier order of inhibition.’
  ‘Thereupon, the district judge recalled his order for a preliminary examination.’
  revoke, rescind, cancel, retract, countermand, take back, withdraw, repeal, veto, overrule, override, abrogate
  View synonyms

noun

1An act or instance of officially recalling someone or something.
‘a recall of Parliament’
- ‘Richard Hope, like Nogan not even named among the substitutes on Tuesday, could earn an instant recall.’
- ‘That could mean an instant recall for Liam George, who was dropped to the bench at Yeovil.’
- ‘If Berkovic imagined his move to Ewood Park would mean an instant recall to first team duties he must indeed be blessed with a hugely inflated ego.’
- ‘The assassination led to the recall of the US ambassador.’
- ‘But five of the six who were absent at Castleford - Sonny Nickle, John Duffy, Michael Watts, Alan Hadcroft and Paul Rowley - are set for recalls against Rochdale.’
- ‘Midfielder Richard Cooper is expected to be available despite a kick on his calf yesterday and Chris Smith and Leigh Wood may also get recalls after being left out of yesterday's 16-man squad.’
- ‘With striker Colin Alcide ruled out through injury and Mark Sertori relegated to the bench, there were starting recalls for midfielder Paul Talbot and John Williams.’
- ‘The recalls for Barrow and Beveridge are just reshuffling.’
- ‘Introducing judicial recalls will simply replicate this seventeenth century problem, only with the people in the place of the king.’
- ‘‘I went along to the first audition in London, and five recalls later I got the job,’ she says.’
- ‘Although the audience was not as big as expected, the people there were true Coughlan fans and she really deserved her two recalls.’
- ‘Skipper Mark Hotte and vice-captain Nathan Peat are both pushing for recalls.’
- ‘Dalyell's arguments for immediate recall of parliament seem to me to be unanswerable.’
- ‘But the judges did not order the recall of parliament or the reinstatement of Chaudhry's government.’
- ‘The Drugs Agency still lacks the power to order the recall of contaminated meat.’
- ‘We were the first to call for a recall of parliament.’
- ‘The injuries could see Derek Stillie and Kevin Sharp earn recalls to the first team.’
- ‘A short stint at Class AAA Indianapolis was all it took to earn a recall to the majors.’
summoning back, ordering back, calling back
revocation, rescinding, cancellation, cancelling, retraction, retracting, countermanding, withdrawal, abrogation, repeal, vetoing, veto
View synonyms
1. 1.1North American The removal of an elected government official from office by a petition followed by voting.
  ‘Davis last night became the second governor in American history to be thrown from office in a recall vote.’
  ‘Thus the legal process for recalling the current village committee director was on the way.’
  ‘Wednesday, one of his political advisers said he will make a formal announcement after the recall is officially certified and a date for the ballot is set.’
  ‘Would a Davis resignation cancel the recall, and leave Bustamante as governor?’
  ‘Camejo was an early and avid supporter of the recall and continues to officially call for a ‘yes’ vote on removing Davis from office.’
2The action or faculty of remembering something learned or experienced.
‘he has amazing recall’
- ‘people's understanding and subsequent recall of stories or events’
- ‘She was blessed with a wonderful memory and sense of recall and retained her faculties to the end.’
- ‘The fact that this year's panto at the Brewery is such a resounding success is testament to either Sam's amazing powers of recall or his ability under pressure or both!’
- ‘He has an amazing power of recall and an eagerness to state his case.’
- ‘She's a mechanical genius and yet her common sense and memory recall is nil.’
- ‘Martin John was also blessed with a great sense of recall and memory and could enliven any gathering with his stories from back through the years.’
- ‘As I rode with Shirley to a show in Denver, it was with amazing recall that she told stories of horses and their owners.’
- ‘Subjects were instructed that they should remember as many words as possible for purposes of subsequent recall.’
- ‘It does indicate that I have poor memory recall, though.’
- ‘Even fewer students have any recall of these topics, as I know from having asked audiences at various colloquia.’
- ‘I found that Kathy had the most amazing recall and was quite, utterly accurate in virtually everything she told me.’
- ‘We would not expect that agreement to take part in the study would have altered their recording behaviour or their subsequent recall of the consultations.’
- ‘Their powers of recall, often stretching back to early childhood memories, are utterly enthralling.’
- ‘She had extraordinary recall of the many changes and great events that she witnessed during her long life and she loved to share all those memories with her friends and relatives.’
- ‘Extraordinary memory and recall of events, facts, and/or figures.’
- ‘This simulates clinical interface with a patient testing recall, understanding, and communications skills all at once.’
- ‘The second sequential component to happiness is the phenomenon of retrospective recall.’
- ‘If something has been perceived subliminally, it is stored in a part of the memory that is inaccessible to conscious recall.’
- ‘I just wish my powers of recall were a little… sharper.’
- ‘There was no perceptible improvement in recall.’
- ‘Some of the women were concerned about recall problems, but this was not apparent in the interviews.’
recollection, memory, remembrance
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1. 2.1The proportion of the number of relevant documents retrieved from a database in response to an inquiry.
  ‘The (q) of a block is a function of its recall probability and size.’
  ‘It has high recall and high precision, but has the disadvantage of being an expensive database with high online print royalties.’
  ‘The effectiveness of a search can be measured in terms of recall and precision.’

Phrases

beyond recall

In such a way that restoration is impossible.
‘shopping developments have already blighted other parts of the city beyond recall’
- ‘The glorious past belonged in the age of heroes and was lost beyond recall; the real past was full of trickery, violence and abuse, both within individual cities and in relations between cities.’
- ‘The Age of Religious Culture is apparently past, perhaps beyond recall.’
- ‘The other passengers are immolated beyond recall.’
- ‘Once the game had gone beyond recall, Mike Ward launched a blistering attack on the Blackpool bowlers to end his innings on 82.’
- ‘But it can offer no way back and an overs match where the first batting side collapses is a match gone beyond recall.’
- ‘However the winner was beyond recall by then and had a length and a half to spare at the line in 17.71.’
- ‘Gilmour netted another corner four minutes from time, and put the game beyond recall for the visitors.’
- ‘It seemed to me that this necessarily complex structure was ruined beyond recall.’
- ‘Adam's face darkened, and his teasing, light-hearted mood was gone beyond recall.’
- ‘The time of provincial economic processes has passed beyond recall.’